Snug Update

It's been a strange couple of weeks. We've had to have some adjustments made, slight teething problems, but it meant running down the stock to work on the stillage the last couple of Sundays. We are now busily restocking ready to resume normal service.

There will be several new ales arriving over the next few days with Unsworth's Yard Brewery, Marble Beers and others making their debuts. More about which ones as they arrive and are ready to serve.

At the moment we have Pennine Sun Stone, a natural ale which means it has the appearance of wheat beer but is a pale ale with a mishmash of unusual flavours. The Lancaster Black is on, as is Sharp's Doom Bar to remind people of holidays in Cornwall.

Take Home Beer

Take home beer is now available in two pint containers. When we close at 9-00pm, and you fancy a nightcap, what better than taking a couple of pints home to round off your night?

While we're talking about opening times I've just received the following which explains the philosophy behind our opening hours and most of the other micropubs' opening hours:

A pub chain executive was at the bar of a small micropub in Carnforth when the pub owner came out to greet him.  Inside the bar were several regulars having a good time.  The executive complimented the owner on his ale and the presentation of his pub and asked how long it took to open the pub

The bar owner replied, "only a little while."

The executive then asked why didn't he charge more for his ale and stay open longer?

The owner said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The executive then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The owner said, "I sleep late, blog a little, play with my cats, take siestas with my wife, Julie, stroll into the village where I sip wine, and play guitar with my friends.  I have a full and busy life."

The executive scoffed, "I have an MA from Oxford and could help you.  You should spend more time opening and with the proceeds you can buy a bigger pub.  With the proceeds from the bigger pub, you could buy several pubs and open even longer and eventually you would have a chain of pubs.  You could then leave this small town and move to London, where you can run your expanding enterprise."

The pub owner asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the executive replied, "15 - 20 years."

"But what then?" Asked the owner.

The executive laughed and said, "That's the best part.  When the time is right you would announce that you are becoming a public limited company and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!"

"Millions - then what?"

The executive said, "Then you would retire.  Move to a small town where you would sleep late, blog a little, play with your cats, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the town in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your friends."

Simples!

(With apologies to the Mexican Fisherman)

Going The Extra Mile

It's been an amazing ten days or so since opening. Really busy and met some great people who enjoy decent beer and good company.

Yesterday we had a chap in from our old stomping ground of South East London. Yesterday lunchtime he was in Kent doing a crawl of old and very new micropubs, especially The Conqueror Alehouse in Ramsgate which has just won Kent CAMRA's Pub of the Year 2012. Many congratulations to Colin and his wife.

Anyway, the chap from London got a message from a friend yesterday in Kent that we had opened in Carnforth. Lo and behold around 6-30 he got off a train and joined us for a pint of Dancing Duck Abduction. An hour or so later he was off back to London via Leeds and York due home around 1-00am.

Now that's what I call a dedicated real ale and micropub connoisseur.

Changing Ales

When we open up again tomorrow we will be taking the discerning drinker on a journey from Morecambe down into Cheshire for a visit to Chester then Nantwich and then on to Derby for a pint of good strong IPA.

Cross Bay Dusk (Morecambe) 

Dusk is very ruby ale with a roasted but slightly spicy and bitter body. This is followed by a floral and black currant aroma.

Inspired by the ruby tones of the dusk over the Lake District peaks, as seen from Morecambe Bay. 

Woodland Oak Beauty (Nantwich)

A mid coloured bitter with just a hint of acorn. 

Dancing Duck Brewery Abduction (Derby)

A myriad of tropical fruit flavours in harmonious balance with an enjoyable level of hoppy bitterness, a good malt character and a very clean finish. This is a dangerously drinkable 5.5% IPA! 

Spitting Feathers-Basket Case (Chester) 

A dark ruby strong ale, rich and fruity full flavour with a smooth finish.

Beer Paddles

We had an adventurous customer try our beer paddles for the first time last night. They're a clever little invention that helps you to carry three thirds of a pint of different ales to your table. A great way of trying a few brews if you're spoilt for choice without over indulging. Here they are:

We're Open

After a 'preview evening' on Tuesday for family and friends we opened our doors to the public for the first time yesterday at noon. Gratitude is due to many people so a big thank you to all who have helped us get the micropub ready for action.

Our first four ales  are proving  a good selection with the Bowness Bay Swan Blonde being extremely popular closely followed by the dark richness of the Boggart Rum Porter.  It was good to have a couple of tourists in yesterday who were pleased to see their local brews on, being the Prospect Silver Tally from Wigan and the Backyard Olympiad from Walsall.

Thanks to Lunesdale CAMRA for the report of Tuesday night on their website.

Cheers!

Ale and Hearty!

It's been hard graft but I've finally done it. The four ales that will be greeting the discerning drinker from Wednesday have been selected. But remember, once they're gone it may be some time before they're back, because variety is the spice of life:

If you can't quite read the pump clips then you'll have to pop along and find out what they are, and try them! Here's another view of The Snug:

Right, that's it, off for a hard earned curry.